Machine for inspecting, splicing, and rewinding motion picture films



July 4, 1933.

MACHINE FOR INSPECTING, SPLICI Filed Oct. 19, 1927 k. C. HAYDEN NG, AND REWINDING MOTION PICTURE FILMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, 1933. A. c. HAYDEN 1,916,311

MACHINE FOR INSPECTING, SPLICING, AND REWINDING MOTIN PICTURE FILMS Filed Oct. 19. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 tool;

I Patented July 4, 1933 UN1TED STATES ARTHUR C', HAYDEE, 0I' BROCKTON, MSSAGHUSETTS ncnnm non.' msrngrme, srmcINe, .um nnwnmme uoTIoN rrc'runn mais `Application led October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,074.`

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to a machine for use in inspecting, splicing and rewinding motion picture iilms.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient machine in which the iilm reels may be quickly and easily mounted on the machine and removed therefrom. The reels when in the camera or projector are so positioned that the frames or pictures on the lm back of the lens are bottom side up. The present machine has provision for mounting the reels thereon so that they will be reversed side-for-side thereby to enable the pictures tobe inspected right slde up.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide means for feeding the film slowly from either reel to the other for ]l ilplpo ses of inspection, and for feeding the in rewinding the same.

Another purpose of the invention is to pi'ovide convenient and efficient means for cutting out imperfect portions of the lilm and quickly and accurately splicing ends of the ihntogether. Still another purpose of the 40 shown in the accompanying. drawings,

Whereinz Fig. 1 is a side elevation vof the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan of the table and the slide,

4s the latter being in position for severing or cutting out a portion of the film; Y A

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the slide in position for splicing the film;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cutting rapidly Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the table and slide showing the film presser in active position;

Fig. 7 is a view of the spindle and pin u connections; and vFi 8 is a view of the film presser showing t e shape of the spring when in inactive position.

Referring to the drawin s, the machine shown therein as one embodlment of the in 'vention comprises a suitable support, in the present instance including a base 1 (Fig. 1) having an inclined standard 3 mounted thereon, said base bein provided with recesses 5 and 7 for receiving a water containing bottle 9 and a cement containing bottle 11. The bottle 9 has a stopper provided with a stem 9a having a brush 9b, and the bottle 11 has a stopper provided with a stem 7o- 11a having a brush 11 The standard is formed to provide abearing 13 in which al lower reel spindle 15 is Y journalled and a bearing 17 in which an upper reel spindle 19 is journalled. The spindle 15 has a gear 21 fast thereon meshing with alarger gear 23 mounted on a stud shaft 25 on Athe standard. Projecting from the gear 23am studs 27 carrying a ring 29 havin a knurled periphery, said ring being so provi ed with a crank handle 31. Fast on the spindle 19 is a gear 33 meshlng wlth an intermediate gear 37 mounted on a stud shaft -39 on the standard. The gear i 37 meshes with a larger gear 41 mounted on.

a stud shaft 43 on the standard. Projecting from the gear 41 are studs 45 carrying a ring 47 having a knurle'd periphery, said ring being provided with a crank handle 49.

The construction is such that the operator may grasp the rings when it is'desired to rotate the reels slowly and lone or the other of the handleswhen it is desired to rotate the reels rapidly. The arrangement of the gears is such that both rings and handles are ro- 95 tated in the same direction to rotate the spin dles in opposite directions.

To support the reels on the spindles in positions reverse to those of the reels in the camera or projector, special pins are pro- 100 vided. The spindle 15 has a socket 51 adapt ed to receive an end rtion 53 of a pin 55 said portion having av ongitudinal slot 57 and a transverse slot 59 crossing the same. The pin has a square portion 61 and a knurled end 63. The circu ar and square portions of the pin are adapted to proect through circular and uare holes 1n t e side plates of the usual fi m reel. The socket 51 has a short pin 65 adapted to enter the longitudinal slot 57 and then enter one or the other of the ends of the transverse slot 59, depending on the direction of rotative adjustment of the pin. The construction is such that a double bayonet joint is rovided for connectin the pin to the spindle. The provision o the two ends of the transverse slot is desirable since the pin will remain in one or the other end and prevent accidental escape of the pin and reel from the spindle when its direction of rotation is reversed. The spindle 19 is provided with a pin 67 the same as the pin described.

A reel 69 may be mounted on the pin 55 and a reel 71 may be mounted on the pin 67, said reels being of the usual construction used in motion picture cameras and projectors. The pins enable the reels to be quickly mounted on and removed fromthe spindles and support the reels so that the frames on the film extending between the reels may be viewed right side up by the observer facing the machine.

The film may be fed from reel to reel over a table 73 mounted on and projectin laterally from the standard, said table ing inclined to enable easy inspection of the film. On this table and secured by screws is a plate 75 provided with a dovetail groove 77 receiving a slide 79 which is movable transversely across the plate and is limited by stops 81 and 83 at the under face of the` slide and ada ted to engage edges of the table.

e slide has an aperture 85 therein adapted to register with an aperture 87 in the table. Beneath the table isa bracket 89 having a air of cheeks 91 of resilient material with inner nickle plated or other reiiector surfaces. The construction is such that a tubular'electric lamp bulb 93 may be ressed in between and be gripped by the t e cheeks thereby securely to hold the same. This lamp will serve to illuminate the ortion of the film above the aperture 85 an the brilliance of the light will be increased by the reflector cheeks.

The slide has an oblong vslot 95 oblique to the length of the slide, and adjacent to the slot is a leaf spring presser 97 having a resilience tending to cause said s ring to stand slightly up from the slide. his presser'is wed -shped and has an edge parallel to the s ot. xtending along and spaced slightly from the slide is a finger 99, and extending transversely thereto is a ridge 101 serving as a guide for enga ement with edges of the film ends to be spiced as more fully hereinafter described.

To hold the spliced ends of the film toether while the cement between them sets, a older or presser is provided comprising a post 103 at one end of the slide havin an arm 105 pivotally mounted thereon. A andle 107 rises -from the arm and rojecting down from the arm are a pair ofp pins 109. A loop or elliptical spring 111 de nds from the arm and is secured thereto a screw 113. The arm is movable to an from its operative osition (Figs. 4 and 6) and is held in said) position by a lock ring 115 on the post 103 which has a notch 117 therein adapted to receive the heel of the arm when the latter is brought to its inoperative position. When the arm has been brought to its operative position it may be held by 'ving the ring a slight rotative adjustment w ich will cause an upper portion thereof to come beneath the heel of the arm.

The late 75, referred to, has rows of teeth 119 lgs. 2, 3 and 4) adapted to enter the rows of feed holes 121 adjacent the edges of the film. Mounted on the plate adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof are guides 123 and 125 conveniently formed of wire and having legs inserted in holes in the plate.

To clean the under surface of the film a pair of brackets 127 and 129 may be secured to the upper and lower edges of the table. Each of these brackets is provided with a trough 131 adapted to hold a wick 133 which may be saturated with a suitable reparation for cleaning the under surface of) the film as it rubs over said wick.

A magnifying glass 135, Fig. 1, is carried by an arm 137 having an end adapted to set in a socket 139 on the plate. A sleeve 141 is adjustably secured on the arm by a set screw 143, said sleeve being provided with a pin 145 adapted to engage opposite ends of a shoulder 146 at the top of the socket. The magnifying glass may be swung to operative and inoperative positions determined by engagement of the pin with the ends of the shoulder. The sleeve may be adjusted along the arm to vary the distance of the magnifying glass from the plate to meet the needs of the observer.

A tool 147 v(Fig. 5) is provided and has a blade 149 with opposed beveled edges 151 and a beveled end 153. The width of the blade is such that it will fit into the slot 95, referred to, in the plate. Y

In use, the pins 55 and 67 are inserted through the reels and connected to the spindles. Assuming the reel 71 is loaded with film, the free end of the latter may be carried over the table and attached to the hub of the lower reel. Then the ring 29 or the handle 31 may be grasped and rotated in a j 'j Y 1,916,811

clockwise direction, thereby to wind the film on the lower reel.

If -it be desired to insplect or edit the lilm the slide is adjusted on t e table to the right (Fig. 2) thereby exposing the aperture 85.

The ma ifying glass is swung to its operative position in which it is above said aperture and .the electric lamp bulb is inserted between the cheeks of its carrying bracket. Then the ring 29 is grasped and slowl turned to cause the film to traverse the tab e across the aperture 85. The successive frames or ictures will be brightly illuminated by the light and will appear enlarged to the observer looking through the magnifying glass, so vthat readyand careful inspection'o the Elm may be made. As the film crosses the table it will be held by the guides 123 and 125 up above the plate suiciently-to clear the. rows of teeth 119.

On discovery of an imperfect frame or:

frames the ortion of the film containing the same may Ae cut out. To accomplish this the Elm is pressed down slightl toward the late so that the teeth 119 enter feed oles of the lilm. Then the slide is adjusted to the. left to its position shown in Fig. 3 and is held by adjustment of a dog 7 9winto an edge notch :79h in the slide. Now the leaf spring presser 97 will overlie the film and the end of the linger 99 will overlie an ed e of the ilm as will be observed in Fig. 3.

he film is now in readiness tovbe severed.

To accomplish this the leaf spring 97 is pressed down toward the plate to hold the h'lm and then the blade of the tool 147 is presented to the iilm and pressed down into the slot 95. In so doing' its edges 151 will coop- ,erate with the slot to'die out an elongated piece from the film. By having the-slot disposed obliquely to the length of the slide, a.

splice of'greater len th can be made than if the slot were para el to the length of the ide.

Next the stopper of thev water bottle is removed and its brush is swept across and moistens the margin 155 of thelm standing beyond the upper edge of the leafspring 97. Then the tool is passed across the film mar and against the up er edge of the leaf s rlng to score the film. ext the end ofthe lade is applied to the filmmargin to scrape the emulsion therefrom in order that the margin other ena of the elm ,is lifted' from the teeth 119 holding the same and the film is brought down and re-applied tothe teeth so that the ends of the iilm will overlap. In so adjust-` ing the upper end of the' film an edge thereof is'slipped eneathv the end of the finger 99.

Next the dog rocked out of the edge'v notch of the slide and the latter is moved to the left toits position shown in Fig. 4, and the ridge 101 will engage and aline edges of the overlapped ends of the film. The end of the blade of the tool is inserted in a depres- :sionY 157 inthe slide and the upper end portion of the film beyond the finger 99 is pried upso as to expose the film margin 155. The sto the ttle and its brush is swept across the film mar in -thereb to apply the cement thereto. hen the lade of the tool is removed from the depression to allow the upper end of the film to come down on the cement coatedilmmargin.

Next the arm 105 is rocked to bring the elliptical spring down onto the overlapped ends of the film and the arm is secured by adjustment of the sleeve 115 to a position beneath' the heel of the arm. When vthe spring is pressed down it will elongate the 4the film it will leave edge portions of the film before leaving the center of the film.

This is a desirable feature since it tends to prevent the spring from pulling the film up at lthe edges and breaking the splice.

The film having been spliced, the slide may be adjusted to the right toits inoperative position, and feeding of the film andv inspection thereof may be resumed. It will be understood that if a portion of the film greater lthan the width of the blade is to be removed it will be necessary to make two cuts across theY film and then the ends may be brought together and spliced as described above.

, After thelilm has been inspected, it may be quickly rewound back onto the reel from which it was fed, and this may be accom- Aplished while the reels remain on the spindles, since either spindle may be used as the driving spindle.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited .to the specificv embodiment shown, and that variousdeviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

-What is claimed is :V

1. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a

table on thev support having an aperture therein and over whichv film may be fed, means adapted to support an electric lamp beneath the aperture, and a slide having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool pper of thecement bottle is lifted from for severing the film, said slide being movable on the table toadjust the slot to and from a position-beneath the film.

2. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which film may be fed, a slide on the table having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool 1n severing the film, and a member on the slide adjacent to the slot for holding the film While severing the same.

3. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which filmvmay be fed, and a slide on the table having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool in severing the film, said slide having fingers for holding the film onto the table. K

4. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support', a'

table onthe support and over which film may be fed, said table having teeth for entrance into feed holes of the film, and a slide on the table having provision for holding the film onto said teeth.

5. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which film may be fed, a slide on the table having a slot adapted to receive a tool for severing the film, and a film edge guide on the slide, the latter being adjustable to move the slot beneath the film and to bring the 'guide into engagement with the edge of the film. Y

6. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a

table on the support and over which film may be fed, a slide on the table havingl a slot Vtherein adapted to. cooperate with a tool in severing the film, and a spring presser on the slide for holding overlapping ends of the film together.

7. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which film may be fed, a slide on the table having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool in lsevering the film, and anarm on the slide having a spring presser for holding overlapped cemented ends of the film together While the cement is setting. v f

8. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the su port and over which film may be fed, a slidlel on the table having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool in severing the film, and a presser for holding together overlapped cemented ends of the film and ha-vinfr a loop-shaped spring for engagement with the film and ada ted on release to leave edges of the film befdre leaving the center portion of the film.

9. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which film may be fed, a slide on the table having a slot therein adapted to cooperate with a tool lin severing the film, a presser for holding together overlapped cemented ends of the film and having al loop-shaped spring for engagement with the film, said presser being movable to and from film engaging position, and means to lock the presser in said position.

10. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a table on the support and over which film may be fed, and a slide on the table having a slot therein for cooperation with a tool in severing the film, said slide being movable to bring the slot beneath the film and movable to a position for holding ends of the film after severing the film.

11. A machine of the character described,

comprising in combination a support, a. table on the support having van aperture therein, means adapted to support an electric lamp beneath the aperture, means for feeding film over the aperture Where it may be inspected, and means .for supporting the film' for repair purposes adjacent'to its inspection location, said last-named means being shiftable from said film supporting position.

ARrHUR o. HAYDEN. 

